Over 200 pounds of trash was collected throughout Seahurst Park on Friday, Feb. 20, with help from folks at the Environmental Science Center (ESC), the City of Burien, AVID students from Highline High School, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, and the WA Conservation Corps. All together there were seven bags of trash, four of which consisted entirely of recyclables. Some of the more bizarre findings included:
- a laptop battery charger
- several pairs of shoes
- a soiled diaper
“These [AVID] students were generous with their time, and willing to learn and question and wonder about what we were doing, and the place we did it in. They in turn, teach us.â€Join Puget Soundkeeper AllianceSoundkeeper’s mission is to protect and preserve the waters of Puget Sound by monitoring, cleaning up, and preventing pollutants from entering its waters. Since 1984 PSKA has relied heavily on volunteers to achieve this goal. With weekly boat and kayak patrols, water quality monitoring, marine debris cleanups, and other exciting opportunities PSKA has a job for you! For more details contact Stewardship Coordinator, Kathryn Davis: Kathryn@pugetsoundkeeper.org. For more information, visit www.pugetsoundkeeper.org.]]>-Larry Reymann ESC Board President
It is so sad that people continue to litter and trash the environment. Even in my day and age we were taught not to litter and to pick up after ourselves. With all the green brainwashing going on you would think there wouldn’t be any litter at all. It seems to be getting worse though.
Loren,
I don’t understand it either. I guess there will always be a few thoughtless members of our society.
However, I think it is actually getting better. I’ve been involved in a number of cleanups and 200 pounds for an area the size of Seahurst Park is really not much (although still too much). Some of the cleanups I’ve been involved in are annual events and the amount seems to be going down. When I was growing up on the Sound it was not uncommon for waterfront residents to dump refuse on the beach. After all, it was flushed clean twice a day. That is rare now, although I did happen to see the people staging a high end house on the beach at the cove dump a load of wilted flowers into Miller Creek.
Hi Lee,
That is good news for the beach, I was thinking about all the trash I see along 509 when I drive to Seattle. They have clean up crews pick up bags and bags and bags full, and then a few days later it is litter city again.
I never see anybody throwing anything out their window, yet the trash is there, time after time.
It was made clear to me not to litter and it was one of those things that hasn’t been that difficult to keep to. Littering is an extremely selfish act.
Loren
a lot that comes from trucks going to the transfer station (dump) even if you tarp everything down little items still can pop lose unfortunately.
Even worse are those who use streets like Meyers Way as a dumping ground. I frequently see bagged garbage, old furniture and other junk along there and the authorities seem to try hard to stay ahead of it.. As I recall, there is a law that says that if there are three pieces of identification (return addresses, old bills, receipts, etc.) in the garbage that person is responsible for it. A few good fines could help the issue.
Thank you Jimmy, I had not considered that.
One thing I did see driving to work today was somebody throwing a cigarette butt out their window. I see that all the time. Good thing it rains a lot around here!
Yeah just wait until you see one come out a window of a Toyota Prius saving the planet with there feet and destroying it with there hands.
Also cigarette companies now of days put a chemical in the papers of the cigarettes to make go out quicker if you ever look at cigarette up close you should see little light gray lines on the paper part.
Thank you volunteers for picking up litter and tackling blackberry vines at our community gem Seahurst Park! People of all ages can enjoy and explore the Burien’s own Puget Sound coastal habitat. Just last week at low tide I discovered many colonies of live sand dollars poking out of the sand!
Although some trash doesn’t make it into the cans, most visitors try to clean up. And, I have found some of the craziest things washed up onto the beach…a radio from Vashon Island (still worked), docks, shoes, coconuts, bottles, parts of boats, and that giant dead whale!